The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-06-01

grows.n
Franz looked at first bewildcrcd ut
this speech. and then, as the meaning
dawned upon HIM, ho smiled aravely,
1T grows not here, the Edelwelss,
mein herr" he SAID. ''It is far from
the trodden paths, and it is dangerous
to get it,"
The old gentleman smiled superclll-
ously.
oh, Pm up to all that. You
needn't try any Of your guides' tricks
on me. It's dangerous to get. is it, and
us worth ever so much because of the
danger2 Come. now" jlngling money
~ ms pocket, "what'l tempt you to
tryf WHAT'S tho market value Of the
flower, that 'Addlewass,n Or whatever
it may bo2 III give you i've dollars
for q bunch.n
"Slein herr" said Franz, 81 do not
want five dollars for the ilower; but
since you want ono SO much, l will try
to get 1t for you, but not for money. 1t
does not grow on big punches, as YOU
think, and now, Oh, it !s very scarce.
But perhaps ono may be found, and to.
morrow will bring it."
lie was up at daylight the next
morning, and Off on his quest. In
deep ravnes, and dangerous clefts.
on icy ledges, and in cornered nooks.
he sought vainly for the little flower.
1T was too late in the season for it, and
when noon came, and his search was
still unsuccessful, he was about to re-
turn homo. At last peerlng over the
precipice, Oh a ledge far below he saw
the pale stars Of the object of his
search. a wall went almost perpen-
dicuarly down to them, not impossi-
bic to descend, |, the ledge where they
grew was narrow, and one false step
would precipitate him into the gulf
beneath. 1t was not as deep as many
others, but no man conld fall down thoae
luttlng sides and reach the bottom
alive. He looked, and hesitated, when
q well known voice in his ear made
him start.
us that you. Hermann" he asked.
"Well, it's not my ghost, Franz, {"
Herman answered, with a laugh,
Though the fat Englisher down there
Is apt to make one Of me before long.
He wants Edcwoiss, AMI I've been In
all kinds OF break.neck-places to get
some for him. Elal peerng over the
prccipce, why there's some now.n
"lt IS mine," Franz answered,
angrily, for lie dislkod and distrusted
Herman. III found it, and nobody
touches it, do you hcar2"
"Yes, but since when have YOU
bought the right to gather all the lidel.
weiss on the free mountains2 If YOU
can get 1t, tako it in welc jme, but it is
not yours until you touch it, and I.
too, will mako trial for it.n
The next moment he had disap-
peared and Franz who was preparing
to descend, saw the ledge Oh which the
flower grew ran round the side Of The
rrecipice, and that Herman, descend
ing to it from another point, was slowly
making his way around by The help OF
an alpensLock which ho dug In the
sides as he advanced. to steady his
steps.
More nervous than an Alpine climber
should be, for lie was very angry.
Franz made his way down with dlni-
Guilty, and dragged the plant to him,
with his alpenstock, just rs Herman
had stretched out his hand to grasp It.
Forgetting all caution in this hour Of
triumph, lie waved the flower above
his head. The act made him lose his
balance. Herman looking on with
angry eyes, saw the stick shoot from
the unhappy boys hand, and with a
cry of agony, poor Franz lost his bal
ance, and fell into tho depths.
Herman made his way from the fatal
ledge, and rushed back to Zermatt
With the news. Every one liked the
boy, and n large body Of mountaineers
set out In search OF tho body. It was
recovered the next day, the body
crushed, but the faco unmutilated, and
In the hand so tightly clenched that it
could not bo loosened, was tho fatal
flower.
The next day the pompous Ameri-
can and hls daughter entered the cot
tago who're the remains Of Franz we're
laid out. Several women were in the
room, but one, silent, motionless, with
unseeing eyes, sat by the shrouded
form; and the strangers needed no one
to tell thom that was tho beroayetl
mother.